I used to be horse crazy. My first horseback ride in 24 years. October 2020

 

Those of you who knew me when I was young know that I was

horse crazy.  I don't know if there was any moment in my young childhood

that I wasn't day dreaming about horses. 

I was very disappointed at some point in my childhood

when I realized that I would not grow up and turn into a horse.

That really was my grand desire.  Once realizing this

was not to be I then became determined to have a horse of my own.

If you can't become one and run around wild, then 

the next best thing would be to have a horse and ride around on it.

Maybe even racing around through a field.

I was lucky to work on a Morgan horse farm in high school.

I enjoyed riding and learning about horses.

There are days when I wish I could go back and just

enjoy those moments again.  I was young and fearless and

so enjoyed the time I spent with horses.

I think if I could tell my young self anything it

would be learn more about training, and caring for horses.

I would also tell myself to relax and enjoy the moment,

don't worry about horse shows and competing, just enjoy

being with horses.

Many people who know me now I'm sure have no clue I 

was a horse crazy girl.  I don't think

there is much around my house that would point to this passion I had.

I don't think most people know that I have a degree in Animal Science.

It's probably why on my days off I go off bird watching and

go on nature walks.  I love science. 

I love animals and I still love learning about them.

I have spent the last 24 years raising my little family.

From time to time I have missed riding horses.

I have so enjoyed being a mother that I'm not sad

that the horse part of my life disappeared. 

I'm glad for all the different twist and turns my life has made.

I sometimes look at my children who are worrying over career paths

and college class decisions and I think "don't worry you have time."

Life is a journey that takes you to so many interesting places if you let it.

I'm glad for those horse years, and all the years that came after.

Down the road from where I live our friend keeps horses.

He is a "horse whisperer." 

We will see him out working with his horses and we will wander down.

I watch him training horses and I am amazed by his skills.

My husband fixed his horse trailer and I asked for a horseback riding lesson.

So this is me 24 years later riding a horse and feeling very much like I know nothing.

It was wonderful and I look forward to spring and possibly another ride.

I learned one thing, I'm no longer horse crazy. 

That is a past love, a dream already realized. 

I'm content to watch and every now and again take a walk around the ring.

I think if I could I would go to the fair and do the pony rides, but I'm sure they

would all laugh and say "you are too old!" 

I am hoping when I cross to the other side that I will get to be with the horses I knew as

a young woman.  Deep down I also hope you can transform into an animal. It would be so 

amazing to run like a wild horse.  I guess some desires never quiet leave you.

Hope you are all well.

Do you have something you did when you were young that you loved doing

but no longer do?

G.G.

Fall Nature Walk in the American Fork Canyon. 10/20/2020

 

I have really enjoyed all the fall nature walks we have taken this year.

It has been nice to see different places in Utah.

Utah has so many nice trails.  The

one thing I hope for this winter is either a lot

of snow or rain.

Everything is so dry right now.

I don't think this squirrel was happy about

me trying to get it's photo.

What I want to see is a Mountain Goat / Sheep.

This walk was by a little river and it

was just soothing to listen to the water rushing by.

I have vacation time next week and we

have a few more walks planned. 

I can't wait.

My husband knows all the different trees.

On this walk there were signs by 

many of the trees telling you what they were.

Here are some photos of birds around my house.

This is a new bird to my yard.

It's probably the coolest bird I have seen in my yard.

I have a flock of doves that enjoy the bird seed I leave out.

They even get into the umbrella feeders.

I think this is a really pretty fall photo.

We watched this ( I believe) hawk swoop down and

catch a fish from the reservoir.

I just love watching animals in their environment.

G.G.

The Last Garden walk of the season. October 14,2020

 

I remember in spring looking forward to the Tulip Festival,

and then Covid came and the Tulip Festival did 

not happen.

Now it's the last week of the gardens being open.

They have lots of scarecrows about and very few flowers.

I didn't walk the gardens every week.  I did lots of 

other things, but I did get there for the last week.

I think I may try to grow these next year along our back fence.

They have them in a small rectangle shaped pot at the bottom

of this. 

So there is a video of a man being chased by a mountain lion.

The only feline I have seen out and about is this little back kitten.

I'm not sure if it is lost or wild.

I always see these berries and think they are the perfect

fall color.

I love the way the grass looks.

I recently purchased some new lens

for my cell phone camera so 

I can't wait to try them out next year.

My husband and I have done a lot of fall nature walks

and I have to say my favorite thing to do is crunch in the

fallen leaves.

I was trying to get the fall leaves in the background of this structure.

This is a English Daisy.  They have removed most of the plants

and planted the tulips for next spring and then put pansies and daisy over them.

I have planted tulips and crocuses in my own garden.

If they actually bloom I will be amazed.

I feel like the summer went way too fast.

While I am glad for cooler weather, I really don't look forward to snow.

This has been such a strange year.  When the pandemic started

we started doing our temperature taking daily at work.

In the beginning I remember taking my temperature at home every morning

before going to work.  I don't do that any more.   I kept thinking any day

I would get this awful virus.

Now instead I just say thank you to my Heavenly Father 

each day that I am not sick.

I took photos of the scare crows I like the best.  I 

like the mini Yoda with this one.

This life size dragon was really cool.  I wonder

if the person made it or if they ordered it from somewhere.

I scary tree. 

I think I like burgers better than chicken.  But this

was a cute display.

Is there room on the broom?  I remember

reading this story to my children.

A Scooby Doo Halloween. 

Gnomes seemed to be around all year long so having a

scarecrow gnome seemed to be just perfect to me.

I like to get pumpkin photos.

Hope you are enjoying fall. 

G.G.